All Postgraduate Modules

Political Science postgraduate modules for 2024/25. Module links will take you to the UCL Module Catalogue where you can find detailed descriptions and more information.

Department of Political Science Students Only | All Students in Political Science and those within other departments

Module Selection

To fully support you when selecting your modules UCL have compiled the following guidance and resources:

Please take some time to review these before making your choices.

Department of Political Science Students Only

Political Science Postgraduate Students can see the below list of modules important to your Degree Qualification and available for your programme of study:

MA Human Rights

Compulsory modules

PUBL0018 Theoretical Foundations of Human Rights
PUBL0035 Human Rights: Politics and Practice
PUBL0096 Doing Human Rights Work
PUBL0032 International Law and Human Rights
PUBL0054 Dissertation

Optional modules

PUBL0010 Qualitative Methods: Interviews, Observations and Mixed Methods
PUBL0085 Qualitative Methods: Texts and Images
PUBL0086 Qualitative Methods: Case Studies and Comparative Analysis
PUBL0055 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
PUBL0050 Causal Inference
PUBL0057 Normative Methods, Legal Analysis and Research Skills

Recommended Electives

PUBL0013 The Ethics of Poverty [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0014 NGO, Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Policy and Management
PUBL0015 Terrorism
PUBL0023 Equality, Justice and Difference
PUBL0024 Theories of International Relations [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0026 Public Ethics
PUBL0074 Political Economy of Development
PUBL0036 Governing Divided Societies
PUBL0037 Foreign Policy Analysis
PUBL0038 Gendering the Study of Politics: Theory and Practice
PUBL0044 Rebellion [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0045 Global Ethics
PUBL0046 Conflict Resolution and Post-War Development

MA Legal and Political Theory

Compulsory modules

PUBL0022 Meanings of Liberty: Applied Methods in Political Theory
PUBL0070 Peer Assisted Learning Sessions (PAL)
PUBL0073 Dissertation

Optional modules

Political Philosophy
PUBL0018 Theoretical Foundations of Human Rights
PUBL0071 Contemporary Political Philosophy I: Authority, Obligation & Democracy
PUBL0072 Contemporary Political Philosophy II: Social Justice and Equality
LAWS0051 Jeremy Bentham and the Utilitarian Tradition I & II
LAWS0052 Jeremy Bentham and the Utilitarian Tradition I
LAWS0208 Jurisprudence and Legal Theory I & II
LAWS0054 Jurisprudence and Legal Theory I

Applied Political Philosophy
PUBL0013 The Ethics of Poverty [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0023 Equality, Justice, and Difference
PUBL0026 Public Ethics
PUBL0045 Global Ethics
PUBL0084 Social Justice, Social Mobility, Education and the Family
PUBL0094 The Ethics of Social Media [n/a 25-26]

Recommended Electives

PUBL0009 Health Policy and Reform [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0015 Terrorism
PUBL0024 Theories of International Relations [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0036 Governing Divided Societies
PUBL0038 Gendering the Study of Politics: Theory and Practice
PUBL0046 Conflict Resolution and Post-War Development
PUBL0051 War and International Law

MSc Climate Change Policy and Politics

Compulsory modules

PUBL0113 Climate Policy Analysis
PUBL0114 The Politics of Climate Policy
PUBL0115 Climate Justice
PUBL0054 Dissertation

Qualitative Compulsory Option
PUBL0010 Qualitative Methods: Interviews, Observations and Mixed Methods
PUBL0085 Qualitative Methods: Texts and Images
PUBL0086 Qualitative Methods: Case Studies and Comparative Analysis

Quantitative Compulsory Option
PUBL0055 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
PUBL0050 Causal Inference
PUBL0099 Quantitative Text Analysis for Social Science

Recommended Electives

PUBL0004 International Political Economy
PUBL0008 Public Management; Theories and Innovations
PUBL0011 Public Policy Economics and Analysis
PUBL0014 Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Policy and Management
PUBL0017 Making Policy Work
PUBL0027 Agenda Setting and Public Policy
PUBL0028 Policy Implementation
PUBL0049 Global Public Policy [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0056: Governing Global Business
PUBL0060 International Trade Policy and Climate Change
PUBL0074 The Political Economy of Development

MSc Democracy and Comparative Politics

Compulsory modules

PUBL0034 Democratic Political Institutions
PUBL0039 Democracy and Constitutional Design
PUBL0054 Dissertation

Quantitative Compulsory Option
PUBL0055 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
PUBL0050 Causal Inference
PUBL0099 Quantitative Text Analysis for Social Science

Optional modules

PUBL0033 Parliaments, Political Parties and Policy Making
PUBL0036 Governing Divided Societies
PUBL0021 The Transformation of Politics in Europe [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0082 Voters, Public Opinion and Participation [n/a 25-26]

Recommended Electives

PUBL0004 International Political Economy
PUBL0011 Public Policy Economics and Analysis
PUBL0014 NGO, Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Policy and Management
PUBL0017 Making Policy Work
PUBL0021 The Transformation of Politics in Europe [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0023 Equality, Justice, and Difference
PUBL0027 Agenda Setting and Public Policy
PUBL0031 Law and Regulation I
PUBL0033 Parliaments, Political Parties & Policy Making
PUBL0036 Governing Divided Societies
PUBL0038 Gendering the Study of Politics: Theory and Practice
PUBL0046 Conflict Resolution and Post-War Development
PUBL0049 Global Public Policy [n/a 25-26]
AMER0007 Democratization in Latin America [ Does not belong to Political Science Dept]

MSc Global Governance & Ethics

Compulsory modules

PUBL0045 Global Ethics
PUBL0061 Global Governance
PUBL0054 Dissertation

Quantitative Compulsory Option
PUBL0055 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
PUBL0050 Causal Inference
PUBL0099 Quantitative Text Analysis for Social Science

Optional modules

PUBL0049 Global Public Policy [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0004 International Political Economy
PUBL0024 Theories of International Relations [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0109 Global Security Policy

Recommended Electives

PUBL0014 NGO, Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Policy and Management
PUBL0015 Terrorism
PUBL0021 The Transformation on Politics in Europe [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0023 Equality, Justice, and Difference
PUBL0024 Theories of International Relations [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0004 International Political Economy
PUBL0074 The Political Economy of Development
PUBL0036 Governing Divided Societies
PUBL0037 Foreign Policy Analysis
PUBL0038 Gendering the Study of Politics: Theory and Practice
PUBL0044 Rebellion [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0046 Conflict Resolution and Post-War Development
PUBL0049 Global Public Policy [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0084 Social Mobility, Educational Justice, and the Family
GEOG0083 Politics of Climate Change [ Does not belong to Political Science Dept]
GLBH0020 Power and Politics in Global Health [ Does not belong to Political Science Dept]

MSc International Public Policy

Compulsory modules

PUBL0090 International Public Policy
PUBL0054 Dissertation

Quantitative Compulsory Option
PUBL0055 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
PUBL0050 Causal Inference
PUBL0099 Quantitative Text Analysis for Social Science

Optional modules

International Political Economy
PUBL0004 International Political Economy
PUBL0056 Governing Global Business
PUBL0060 Trade Policy and Climate Change
PUBL0074 The Political Economy of Development

Social and Environmental Issues
PUBL0059 Human Rights, Accountability and World Politics
PUBL0093 Migration, Politics and Policy
PUBL0110 Human Rights in Crisis

International Security
PUBL0015 Terrorism
PUBL0046 Conflict Resolution and Post-War Development
PUBL0087 From Cyberwarfare to Robots: The Future of Global Conflict in the Digital Age
PUBL0109 Global Security Policy

International Policy Making
PUBL0024 Theories of International Relations {n/a 25-26}
PUBL0037 Foreign Policy Analysis
PUBL0088 International Negotiation
PUBL0089 International Organisations: Theory and Practice {n/a 25-26}

Recommended Electives

PUBL0011 Public Policy Economics and Analysis {n/a 25-26}
PUBL0019 Policy Making and Regulation in Europe
PUBL0027 Agenda Setting and Public Policy
PUBL0036 Governing Divided Societies
PUBL0044 Rebellion {n/a 25-26}
PUBL0051 War and International Law

MSc Public Policy

Compulsory modules

PUBL0040 Theories and Actors of the Policy Process
PUBL0011 Public Policy Economics and Analysis

Quantitative Compulsory Option
PUBL0055 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
PUBL0050 Causal Inference
PUBL0099 Quantitative Text Analysis for Social Science

Optional modules

PUBL0031 Law and Regulation
PUBL0008 Public Management: Theories and Innovations
PUBL0027 Agenda Setting and Public Policy
PUBL0028 Policy Implementation

Recommended Electives

PUBL0009 Health Policy and Reform {n/a 25-26}
PUBL0014 Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Policy and Management
PUBL0016 Energy and Climate Policy
PUBL0019 Policy-Making & Regulation in Europe {n/a 25-26}
PUBL0021 The Transformation of Politics in Europe {n/a 25-26}
PUBL0026 Public Ethics
PUBL0112 The European Union: Institutions and Politics
PUBL0029 Strategy and Organisational Change {n/a 25-26}
PUBL0065 Public Finance Budgeting
PUBL0004 International Political Economy
PUBL0074 The Political Economy of Development
PUBL0030 British Government and Politics
PUBL0033 Parliaments, Political Parties and Policy Making
PUBL0082 Voters, Public Opinion and Participation
PUBL0034 Democratic Political Institutions
PUBL0036 Governing Divided Societies
PUBL0038 Gendering the Study of Politics: Theory and Practice
PUBL0049 Global Public Policy {n/a 25-26}
PUBL0051 War and International Law
PUBL0037 Foreign Policy Analysis
PUBL0102 American Foreign Policy
PUBL0108 The Rise of Global China
IIPP0012 Rethinking Capitalism [ Does not belong to Political Science Dept]
GEOG0083 Politics of Climate Change [ Does not belong to Political Science Dept]
BPLN0054 Sustainability, Resilience and Climate Change [ Does not belong to Political Science Dept]
GEOG0099 Cities and Climate Change [ Does not belong to Political Science Dept]
GLBH0021 Climate Change and Health [ Does not belong to Political Science Dept]

MSc Security Studies

Compulsory modules

PUBL0083 Violent and Non-Violent Conflict
PUBL0041 International Peace & Security
PUBL0054 Dissertation

Quantitative Compulsory Option
PUBL0055 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
PUBL0050 Causal Inference
PUBL0099 Quantitative Text Analysis for Social Science

Optional

PUBL0015 Terrorism
PUBL0036 Governing Divided Societies
PUBL0044 Rebellion [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0046 Conflict Resolution & Post-War Development
PUBL0051 War and International Law
PUBL0087 From Cyberwarfare to Roberts: The Future of Global Conflict in the Digital Age
PUBL0102 American Foreign Policy

Recommended Electives

PUBL0004 International Political Economy
PUBL0014 NGO, Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Policy and Management
PUBL0024 Theories of International Relations [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0045 Global Ethics
PUBL0049 Global Public Policy [n/a 25-26]
PUBL0074 The Political Economy of Development
SECU0032 Perspectives on Organised Crime [ Does not belong to Political Science Dept]
SECU0035 Perspectives on Terrorism [ Does not belong to Political Science Dept]

MPA in Public Management and Leadership

Core modules

PUBL0048 Leadership And Organisational Behaviour
PUBL0062 Data Analysis For Public Policy
PUBL0063 Governance & Public Management
PUBL0054 Dissertation

Modules Open to Postgraduate Political Science Students Only: PUBL0010 Qualitative Methods: Interviews, Observation and Mixed Methods
PUBL0011 Public Policy Economics & Analysis (PPEA)
PUBL0055 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
PUBL0085 Qualitative Methods: Using Texts, Transcripts, and Images
PUBL0086 Qualitative Methods: Case Studies and Comparative Analysis

Modules with further Access Limitations

Only open to MSc DCP students
PUBL0039 Democracy & Constitutional Design

Only open to MSc DDSPP students
PUBL0097 Data, Evidence and Public Policy

Only open to MSc GGE students
PUBL0061 Global Governance

Only open to MA HR students
PUBL0032 International Law and Human Rights
PUBL0035 Human Rights: Politics and Practice
PUBL0054 - B Dissertation
PUBL0057 Normative Methods, Legal Analysis and Research Skills
PUBL0096 Doing Human Rights Work

Only open to MSc IPP students
PUBL0090 International Public Policy
PUBL0116 Policy Proposal Project (International Public Policy)

Only open to MA LPT students
PUBL0022 Meanings of Liberty: Applied Methods in Political Theory
PUBL0070 Peer Assisted Learning Sessions (PAL)
PUBL0073 Dissertation (LPT)

Only open to MSc PP students
PUBL0040 Theories & Actors of the Policy Process
PUBL0104 Policy Proposal Project (Public Policy)

Only open to MPA students in Department of Political Science
PUBL0048 Leadership and Organisational Behaviour
PUBL0054 – C Dissertation
PUBL0062 Data Analysis for Public Policy
PUBL0063 Governance & Public Management

Only open to MSc Security Students
PUBL0041 International Peace and Security
PUBL0083 Violent and Non-Violent Conflict

Only open to PGT students in the Department of Political Science & MSc Data Science students
PUBL0050 Casual Inference

Only open to PGT MSc students in Departmental of Political Science
PUBL0054-A Dissertation

Open to MSc students in the Department and Political Science, as well as students on MSc Data Science and Public Policy, MSc Economics, MSc Economics and Finance, and BSc PIR students who have attended POLS0083 Quantitative Data Analysis.
PUBL0099 Quantitative Text Analysis for Social Science

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All Students in Political Science and those within other departments

The below list highlights modules available to you from the Department of Political Science. Please click on the links for pre-requisites and departmental restrictions. To discover a full selection of modules available to you at UCL please review the UCL Module Catalogue.

If you're not based in the UCL Department of Political Science but are interested in taking some options/electives that we have available, please check first with the Module Leader and your Programme Director for prior permission.

Please note some of our modules are restricted to the Department of Political Science students only and/or may require a pre-requisite module to have been selected/taken. We recommend you read the criteria listed within the module catalogue.

PUBL0004	International Political Economy
PUBL0008	Public Management: Theories and Innovations
PUBL0014	Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Management and Policy
PUBL0015	Terrorism
PUBL0017	Making Policy Work
PUBL0018	The Theoretical Foundations of Human Rights
PUBL0023	Equality, Justice and Difference
PUBL0026	Public Ethics
PUBL0027	Agenda Setting and Public Policy
PUBL0028	Policy Implementation
PUBL0030	British Government & Politics
PUBL0031	Law & Regulation I
PUBL0033	Parliaments, Political Parties & Policy Making
PUBL0034	Democratic Political Institutions
PUBL0036	Governing Divided Societies
PUBL0037	Foreign Policy Analysis
PUBL0038	Gendering the Study of Politics: Theory and Practice
PUBL0045	Global Ethics
PUBL0046	Conflict Resolution and Post-War Development
PUBL0056	Governing Global Business
PUBL0059	Human Rights, Accountability and World Politics
PUBL0065	Public Finance & Budgeting
PUBL0071	Contemporary Political Philosophy 1
PUBL0072	Contemporary Political Philosophy 2
PUBL0074	The Political Economy of Development
PUBL0084	Social Justice, Social Mobility, Education and the Family
PUBL0087	From Cyberwarfare to Robots: The Future of Global Conflict in the Digital Age
PUBL0088	International Negotiation
PUBL0102	American Foreign Policy
PUBL0108	The Rise of Global China
PUBL0109	Global Security Policy
PUBL0110	Human Rights in Crisis

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Modules listed below are not available for the Academic Year 2025-26:

PUBL0009   Health Policy and Reform
PUBL0013   The Ethics of Poverty
PUBL0016   Energy and Climate Policy
PUBL0019   Policy-Making & Regulation in Europe
PUBL0020   The European Union in the World
PUBL0021   The Transformation of Politics in Europe
PUBL0024   Theories of International Relations
PUBL0025   Globalisation
PUBL0029   Strategy and Organisational Change
PUBL0030   British Government & Politics
PUBL0043 The European Union: Institutions and Politics
PUBL0044   Rebellion
PUBL0047   Democracy and Accountability: Holding Power to Account
PUBL0051 War and International Law
PUBL0066   Ethics of Counter Terrorism
PUBL0067   Good Governance in Developing Countries
PUBL0068   Performance Management
PUBL0069   Policy Advice
PUBL0076   Politics of Economic Policy in Post Industrial Democracies
PUBL0082   Voters, Public Opinion & Participation
PUBL0089   International Organisation: Theory and Practice
PUBL0091   Business and Government
PUBL0092   Middle East Politics
PUBL0093 The Politics of Immigration
PUBL0094   The Ethics of Social Media
PUBL0095 European Politics, Policy and Law in Practice
PUBL0101   Innovation Policy
PUBL0103 LGBTIQ Movements and Rights
PUBL0106   Education Policy
PUBL0107   International Conflict
PUBL0111   Technology, Politics, Regulation and Society
PUBL0112 The European Union: Institutions & Politics

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The modules listed on this page are those expected to run for the next academic year. Over the course of the year we may need to cancel or amend an advertised module, but the Department will make every effort to inform you as soon as possible.